Pune Mirror: In the four elections that he voted in last, Matunga resident Lavin Jadhav had always stuck with the Shiv Sena.

This time, however, the 25-year-old decided to give his vote to Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and his choice turned out to be a major spoiler for the Shiv Sena-BJP by wresting six of its seats in Mumbai.

So what made a die-hard Sainik like Jadhav vote for the MNS?
“My family and I are die-hard followers of Balasaheb. But this time, we decided to vote for the MNS. We voted for Nitin Sardesai who defeated Shiv Sena’s Adesh Bandekar and sitting MLA Sada Sarvankar. I don’t feel sorry at all that I voted for the MNS. There are several reasons why.”

“My first reason is Rajsaheb. I strongly believe that he is a true fighter for the Marathi cause and that he will never change his agenda to get votes from other communities. I have seen how strongly he fights to get us jobs.

The MNS are not just aggressive talkers, they have shown results. Raj hasn’t gone on the back-foot after taking up the Marathi cause, and I am sure he will not compromise (in the future).

The MNS took out an agitation on the Reliance Power tariff issue and within one day, forced the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission to issue a stay order and scrap the hike in power tariff.

“My personal experience with the party has been very good, too. Our chawl was going in for redevelopment and the builder offered us only 250 sq ft tenements. Shiv Sena leaders came and promised to get us a bigger apartments.

But, nothing happened. We later came to know they were hand-in-glove with the builder.

“We approached MNS’s Nitin Sardesai who held discussions with the builder and got us 300 sq ft apartments. Our entire colony, therefore, voted for the MNS. “After this incident, whenever we have faced any problem, we have contacted MNS leaders.

They are always ready to help. Any issue — be it water scarcity, health, unemployment — the MNS has always given us a helping hand in the last three years.

“Sena leaders have only given us assurances. It is precisely because of this that people like me voted for the MNS. The young generation and women are enthralled by the leadership of Raj who, we think, has the right attitude and aggression.”

(Lavin Jadhav works with a private company and stays in Matunga Railway Colony)